Apixaban 5mg x2 daily

[Maura5]

Hi Everyone, I have been taking Apixaban 5mg x2 daily for just over 1 week for AF. I started to feel very light headed yesterday so I took my BP and it had dropped to 98/70 it has always been on the low side of normal anyway. My question is should I persevere with this? Does it get better as your body gets used to the drug? I’m just wondering if anyone has had a similar experience please?

[rosyG]

no- have had Apixaban for 2 years now and wouldn't know I'm on it.

Have you been eating normally- try taking your BP after a meal and see if it's higher??

[Maura5 in reply to rosyG]

Yes eating normally, I will persevere and see how it goes. Thank you

[Hidden]

Yes to the first unless you think you are bleeding internally.

Not heard ac cause low pressure

Verapamil does

[Hidden]

But check this out DOACs interact with Verapamil

Ring gp today re this ?

thrombosisuk.org/downloads/...

see page 23 which seems to suggest an interaction

[Hidden]

Are you in the UK? This so-called Australian bug is everywhere. Wonder whether it could be that. Me and my wife have been feeling a bit funny even though we haven't developed actual flu.

Not had a problem with Apixaban myself which I've been taking for a few years, except possibly slight tinnitus, but that may be for another reason, hard to tell.

[Maura5 in reply to Hidden]

I had a bad chest infection from mid November to beginning of January, 3 courses antibiotics & steroid inhaler. I’m over it now but might be a factor I suppose. Thanks for your help

[Finvola]

I've been taking Apixaban for over 4 years without any problems but Bisoprolol has lowered my normally low BP to 95/65 most of the time.

In your position, I would check with my GP that all is as it should be - Koll could be on the right track with reaction to an infection.

[CaroleF]

I've been taking this dose of apixaban for a year and have experienced no side effects (apart from bruising more easily particularly on the back of my hands). It's always tempting to see a new med. as a direct cause of an unwelcome new symptom but, as others have said, something else might well be going on; a drug interaction? an infection such as flu?

If you can't get to see your GP quickly then have a word with your pharmacist particularly if a drug interaction might be involved.

Hope you get to the bottom of this soon.

[foxglove1]

Hello

I take Apixoban and have done so for the past 18 months. I was not happy to have to take medication and had dizziness for the first couple of months. My EP said he had heard some other patients complaining of similar.

I no longer have this problem (it stopped after a few week) and like Rosie I would not know I am on it. I take no other medication. I have lowish blood pressure.

[Mike11]

Sorry to ask but you are taking the two 5mg tablets 12 hours apart, aren't you? We have seen a few people here overdosing themselves on some drugs by taking the whole day's dose in one go for convenience.

[Maura5 in reply to Mike11]

Yes, I take them 12 hours apart. I spoke to my EP yesterday and he said I can stop taking them until I see him next week, I’m so happy !!!

[Hidden]

Apixaban does not lower the blood pressure, but having your blood pressure in the normal low range is an asset. Think positive, Apixaban is now protecting you from having a stroke, enjoy it.

[Maura5 in reply to Hidden]

Apixaban does lower blood pressure in some cases my EP told me and unfortunately I'm one of them, I certainly couldn't enjoy it because it made me faint and I will certainly never take it again! I suppose I was just unlucky so back to the drawing board!